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Biodiversity

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What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the rich variety of life on Earth. There's variety in genes, variety among species, and a variety of ecosystems. Everything is interconnected, or dependent on everything else!

Biodiversity Stuff:

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Games
Reading
Hands-on
Videos

Discover some of the amazing ways that organisms have evolved to keep from being eaten.

From Madagascar to Indonesia, travel around the world with Museum scientists.

Conservation biologist Ana Luz Porzecanski answers kids' questions.
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Museum scientists answer kids' questions!

Can you solve these three poison mysteries?

Explore how Eleanor is protecting the world's animals and plants.

Did you know that biodiversity provides us with things that we need?

What unique plants and animals live in this island nation's diverse habitats? 
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Find out what lives in the deep sea, coral reef, and continental shelf.

Join scientist George Amato on his quest to stop criminals smuggling illegal goods.

Learn how to create a scientific illustration of a monarch butterfly in a few easy steps!

Play this game to find out how a law protects animals and plants.

Make your own bird feeder and record your observations in a bird journal.

How far have your groceries traveled? Find out!

Why are many animal and plant species dying out forever?

Find out how biodiversity depends on you.

Learn about the diagrams scientists use to organize all the groups of living things.

Check out these fascinating fish from Africa's lower Congo River.

Start a field journal, and track how your favorite critter looks and behaves.

Take a virtual stroll through a city park for a close-up look at some hidden inhabitants.

Why is Ana fascinated by the rich variety of life on Earth? Find out!
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Watch these videos to explore Felicity's work as a conservation biologist.

Find out why Alice in Wonderland is Mandë's favorite poison story.

Can poisons be used for good? Yes, and Robert will tell you why.

What's threatening planet Earth and how can we protect it? Find out more in these videos of kids at the Museum.

Take a world-wide tour of biodiversity with three scientists.

Find out about Taiwan's fascinating fluttering insects.

Invent a story about an endangered species. Then draw and write about it!

Visit three national parks and monuments. What can you discover with just your eyes?

Explore this family tree of living things on Earth.

In this group game, discover how all the players in an ecosystem depend on each other to survive.

Come explore three different rain forest habitats.

Test your knowledge about the variety of life on Earth with this quiz.

Test your knowledge about the major groups of life on Earth.

Will it kill you or cure you? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Biodiversity is the rich variety of life on Earth. But why is it important?

Explore some surprising ways that organisms get the food that they need.

Explore some of the inventive ways that help living things reproduce and their offspring survive.

Is this animal a rodent, a primate, or a raccoon's relative? Take a guess!